Reggie's voice bore deep into Jaxon and Milo as he spoke his eyes widening as memories of the past began flooding back into his head. "The Age of Anarchy in Gotham over thirty years ago when Gotham was the shittiest of the shitty"
----
Gotham three decades earlier
Police sirens wailed through the streets, blending with the relentless crack of gunfire. A thick, ominous cloud hung over the city, the bright orange glow of burning cars flickering against the night. Thugs swarmed the streets, forcing police officers into a desperate retreat as both sides exchanged relentless fire.
"They're too many of them I can't do this anymore" One of the male cops yelled in distress before turning around and exiting.
"The hell are you going." Bang! A bullet pierced his chest immediately dropping dead on the ground.
"All attempts to reduce crime were futile, law enforcers quit everyday whereas crime increased everyday Gotham was just survival of the fittest, the rich got richer the poor got poorer worse case scenario you were both poor and weak... like me"
"People did whatever the fuck they wanted and got away with it in fact it was easier to make a living as a criminal than it was as a responsible citizen it kept on going crime kept on increasing each day law enforcers quit their job until there was no one left at the top except The Mayor himself knowing fully well he couldn't single handedly bring Gotham back to it's best days he just let it happen some could say he gave up on Gotham."
"We thought we had seen the worst of Gotham but we were wrong the real deal was yet to come two of the biggest baddest crime bosses The Salvatore Brothers, the heads of The Crimson Pact Cult in Gotham at that time had something cooking."
Milo cut in. "Something worse than what Gotham already was?" He asked his curiosity piqued.
Reggie's face remained grave carrying the same cold expression on his face as he replied "Something worse Milo something way worse"
---
Gotham, Three Decades Earlier
A dimly lit room carried an air of age and decay, its worn furnishings whispering of a bygone era. At the center, a round table stood beneath an overhead window, its light casting long shadows over the men seated around it. Eight figures in outdated black suits occupied the table—three on each side—while at both ends sat the Salvatore Brothers.
The two young men bore an almost ghostly pallor. Stefan, his brown hair neatly slicked back, wore pristine white gloves that concealed his hands. Across from him, Damon's piercing brown eyes glowed under the dim light, his jet-black hair curving smoothly over his head, a mirror of his brother's refined yet menacing presence.
"So far, everything has gone according to plan. Gotham's law enforcement has dwindled to a mere 1%, and the Mayor has finally abandoned the city altogether. At last, we are ready to execute the final phase taking over Gotham." Damon's commanding voice filled the room, his words carrying a weight that silenced all who listened."
"And once that's done, every soul in Gotham will belong to us. Their hands will build our industries, their sweat will fuel our factories hell, we could even carve a damn statue of the Salvatore Brothers and make them worship it." Stefan said, a sinister chuckle escaping his lips.
"Relax, brother. We're all excited, but let's not count our eggs before they hatch," Damon said, still chuckling.
"Outdated thinking, don't you think?" Stefan mused.
Bang!
Stefan slammed the table, leaning in with a wicked grin. "I say we count our eggs before they're even born."
At that, the entire table erupted into laughter, their deep, hysterical voices echoing off the walls.
---
"Damn… they wanted to enslave the entire city?" Milo muttered.
"They wanted to drag Gotham back to the dark ages, kid," Reggie replied. "Push it back to a time when people were nothing more than property."
Jaxon leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. "Did they succeed?"
Reggie exhaled sharply. "Almost, kid. Almost. Somehow, they built an entire army, ready to take Gotham by force. Truth be told, if they had just asked, the Mayor probably would have handed the city over. But they wanted to send a message. So they did… what they did."
His voice trailed off as memories stirred. "Their men wore black suits with TSB stamped across their chests, faces hidden behind cold, metal helmets. I tell you, it was terrifying. They stormed the streets, dragged people from their homes. I saw chaos like never before. Some parts are a blur now, but there's one moment… one I remember clear as day."
Reggie's eyes widened, lost in the past.
---
The city of Gotham was in utter chaos. The Salvatore Brothers' army marched through the streets, aimlessly tormenting innocent citizens. Gunshots rang out, mingling with agonized screams and the sound of crashing vehicles—yet not a single police siren pierced the night.
A massive van rolled slowly through the mayhem, its presence commanding attention. Standing atop it, the Salvatore Brothers surveyed the carnage. In Stefan's grip, a megaphone gleamed under the dim city lights.
He raised it to his lips, tilting his head skyward with a heinous grin. "My most esteemed citizens of Gotham, the time has come for change—a new dawn, a twilight where The Salvatore Brothers rule this city. We promise you a fair dose of chaos, a proportionate amount of agony, and a fine taste of pure pain."
His menacing voice echoed through the streets, seamlessly blending with the chaos unfolding before them. Then, he turned to his brother, smirking. "Next stop: The Mayor's Chambers."
---
"Those were his exact words," Reggie said, his voice low. "I looked into the eyes of a man, but somehow, I saw the Devil. He wasn't just speaking—he was warning us. Telling us that what was happening was merely a taste of the horror yet to come. And that… that shattered whatever pieces I had left inside me."
He exhaled sharply, his hands clenching. "I lost hope of even losing hope. I was dead, yet somehow, I was still alive. And in my 58 years on this earth, never have I felt such fear. All from a single man."
Jaxon and Milo exchanged glances before Milo hesitantly asked, "You mean Stefan?"
Reggie shook his head slowly. "No." He looked up, his expression dark. "It was his brother—the one who stood beside him in silence. We locked eyes, and in them... I saw the Devil himself. Damon Salvatore."